This workshop will show you how
writers plot a noveland
will give you the best tips on writing short stories. We’ll also look at where
to get your stories published and how to win contests. Best yet, you’ll see how
to apply the story-building techniques you’ve learned to your own writing.
Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing
teacher for more than 25 years. He teaches at Ryerson University and has led
workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Moncton. But his
proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published.

Guest speakerLynda
Simmons lives in Burlington, but her novels have been
published around the world. To date, she’s published
eight novels and has built a reputation for herself as an outstanding comic
novelist. But her most recent novel, Island
Girl(from Berkley Books, a Penguin USA imprint), represents a
departure for Lynda in that it's a much more serious book.

Set on the Toronto Islands, the novel recounts
the emotionally riveting story of a 55-year-old mother, Ruby Donaldson, who
fights to reunite her family as she struggles with the diagnosis of early
on-set Alzheimer's and her determination to control her own future.

Lynda's previous
novel before Island Girl was Getting Rid of Rosie (Berkley Books). Prior to going mainstream, Lynda served her
apprenticeship as an author by writing six romance novels, published by
Harlequin, Silhouette and Kensington.

When she’s not
writing, Lynda teaches creative writing at Sheridan College in Oakville and at
Ryerson University in Toronto. As Lynda specializes in comic novels, it’s no
surprise that her presentations are known for their humour. At the
workshop, she'll share her insights into plotting novels and creating a
character arc.

Brian Henry has been a book editor, writer, and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He teaches creative writing at Ryerson University. He also leads weekly creative writing courses in Burlington, Mississauga, Oakville and Georgetown and conducts Saturday workshops throughout Ontario. His proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published.